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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY May 1 - 20 , 2017
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11955 88th Avenue , Delta , BC • 604 501 0963 • www . lamezagrill . com • lamezagrill Canada issues new travel alert on the Philippines
Canada has issued a new travel alert on the Philippines because of the possibility of kidnapping by terrorist groups .
Canada joined the U . S . and the United Kingdom in issuing separate travel advisories for their nationals to avoid visiting the island province of Palawan .
Palawan , known as the country ’ s “ last frontier ” for its firm stand to protect its environment and natural resources like forests as well as its seas and rivers , has become one of the Philippines major tourist attractions .
Canada warned against “ elevated threat of kidnapping .”
In their advisories , the embassies of the three countries in Manila cited “ credible information that terrorist groups may be planning to conduct kidnapping operations targeting foreign nationals .”
The advisories urged their nationals to review their
Preliminary results from the May 9 provincial election show that Premier Christy Clark and her ruling B . C . Liberal Party have won a minority government .
Clark ’ s Liberals secured 43 seats as against the B . C . NDP ’ s 41 and the Greens ’ three seats .
However , absentee votes have yet to be counted and recounts done in some tight contests , which will determine the final results .
To win a majority government , a party must win at least 44 of the 87 legislative seats ,
The final count will travel plans to visit Palawan ’ s capital city of Puerto Princesa and the areas surrounding the world-famous Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park .
The advisories also warned their nationals to take all the necessary precautions by avoiding large crowds and gatherings and “ to remain vigilant at all times .”
Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez said the local government has not monitored any terror threats but it is prepared for any scenarios .
Colonel Egard Arevalo , the spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP ), disputed the travel advisories , pointing out they have not received any information regarding terrorist threats in Palawan .
“ We are not aware as to where the US embassy obtained the information . If there is any , it did not come from the AFP ,” Arevalo told a media briefing in a mix of
Filipino and English .
Arevalo said they while they respected the latest travel advisories of the US , UK and Canada , he assured the safety of the thousands of foreign and Filipino tourists visiting Palawan especially during the summer season .
I r o n i c a l l y , government security forces also tended to belittle the travel advisories issued by the U . S . and UK embassies warning their nationals against possible terrorist attacks in Central Visayas in April .
Canada also issued a travel advisory in April this year .
A day after the advisories came out , about 10 members of the Al Qaedalinked Abu Sayyaf terrorists arrived by boat from Sulu in Mindanao on the island province of Bohol , another
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Philippine army troopers in Puerto Princesa in Palawan
major tourist attraction in the Visayas , to pursue their kidnap-for-ransom activities .
At least eight of the terrorist as well as three soldiers including a junior officer and a policemen were killed in the subsequent clashes as the government issued the usual assurance that “ everything was under control .”
In its travel advisory , the
B . C . Liberal Premier Christy Clark wins narrow victory in May 9 provincial election
take place between May 22 and 24 .
A day after a historic election that ended with B . C .’ s first minority government since 1953 , Clark confirmed she would remain premier until at least the final count of ballots by Elections BC .
In a news conference , Clark confirmed that British Columbia Lt . -Gov . Judith Guichon asked her to stay on as premier .
Clark also appeared to be doing her best to woo the Green Party supporters and its three members of the legislature , including leader
Andrew Weaver .
“ We have a lot in common ,” she said . “ I ’ ve worked with Dr . Weaver in the past and he ’ s a smart and thoughtful guy .”
Clark also deflected questions about her role in the Liberal Party ’ s loss of seats .
“ Whether it ’ s a majority or minority government that I lead , we are going to work hard with other parties … and accept the message from the voters who clearly want us to do things differently .”
With all non-absentee ballots counted , Liberals were elected in 43 of B . C .’ s 87
electoral districts , one short of the 44 seats needed to form a majority .
The NDP leads in one riding , Courtenay-Comox , by just nine votes over the Liberals .
Should the Liberals win that seat , the party would have a majority — but if the seat stays with the NDP , the New Democrats and Green Party could hypothetically form a coalition or governing arrangement that would make NDP Leader John Horgan the premier .
The Green party achieved the historic political breakthrough they were
U . S . government said : “ U . S citizens are advised to carefully consider this information as they make their travel plans and to review personal security plans , avoid large crowds and gatherings , and remain vigilant at all times ,” the advisory said , adding that the advice is based on reliable information . .
looking for in the May 9 election .
“ We offered people a change that they could count on and British Columbians delivered that change tonight ,” said Green Party Weaver .
Weaver spoke briefly with Clark and Horgan on election night , but he said it was too early to make any decisions about forming coalitions or informal working agreements with the other parties .
“ Everything is give and take ,” Weaver said . “ We know how to compromise .”
He suggested he saw no reasons CONT NEXT PAGE